US10145048B2 - Clutch device and washing machine - Google Patents

Clutch device and washing machine Download PDF

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Publication number
US10145048B2
US10145048B2 US15/036,179 US201415036179A US10145048B2 US 10145048 B2 US10145048 B2 US 10145048B2 US 201415036179 A US201415036179 A US 201415036179A US 10145048 B2 US10145048 B2 US 10145048B2
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Prior art keywords
rotor body
rotation
switch
state
cam
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US15/036,179
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US20160298277A1 (en
Inventor
Akihiro Ito
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Nidec Instruments Corp
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Nidec Sankyo Corp
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Assigned to NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION reassignment NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ITO, AKIHIRO
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/30—Driving arrangements 
    • D06F37/304—Arrangements or adaptations of electric motors
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/30—Driving arrangements 
    • D06F37/40—Driving arrangements  for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D11/00—Clutches in which the members have interengaging parts
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D11/00—Clutches in which the members have interengaging parts
    • F16D11/14—Clutches in which the members have interengaging parts with clutching members movable only axially
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D23/00—Details of mechanically-actuated clutches not specific for one distinct type
    • F16D23/12—Mechanical clutch-actuating mechanisms arranged outside the clutch as such
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D28/00—Electrically-actuated clutches
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/46—Drum speed; Actuation of motors, e.g. starting or interrupting
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/08—Control circuits or arrangements thereof
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F34/10—Power supply arrangements, e.g. stand-by circuits
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16D—COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
    • F16D23/00—Details of mechanically-actuated clutches not specific for one distinct type
    • F16D23/12—Mechanical clutch-actuating mechanisms arranged outside the clutch as such
    • F16D2023/123—Clutch actuation by cams, ramps or ball-screw mechanisms
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B40/00—Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Definitions

  • At least an embodiment of the present invention relates to a clutch device structured to connect and disconnect transmission of a rotation drive force from a motor to a washing tub and to a washing machine on which the clutch device is mounted.
  • a washing machine including a clutch device on the way of a power transmission path for transmitting a rotation drive force of a motor to a washing tub is described in Patent Literature 1.
  • a clutch lever is moved up and down by a cam body turned by a drive motor and thereby the clutch device is switched between a state that a rotation drive force is transmitted and a state that the transmission of the rotation drive force is cut off in the clutch device.
  • the cam body which is turned by the drive motor is provided with a contact-point cam structured to make a three-contact type switch on and off. Protrusions and recesses are formed on an outer peripheral face of the contact-point cam and an on/off state of contact points “a” and “b” of the three-contact type switch is switched every time the contact-point cam is turned by 180 degrees.
  • washing machine described in Patent Literature 1 connecting and disconnecting of a rotation drive force by the clutch device is switched by controlling driving of the drive motor based on OFF signals of the contact points “a” and “b” and washing and dewatering are performed. Further, the washing machine in Patent Literature 1 is structured so that a position of a valve body provided in a drainage valve of a washing tub is switched by the clutch device and drainage in the washing tub and rotation of the washing tub are performed by interlocking the common drive motor, the cam and the three-contact type switch with each other.
  • a switch element is provided in a circuit which connects the drive motor with a power supply and the switch element is controlled based on OFF signals of the contact points “a” and “b” to perform connecting and disconnecting of the clutch.
  • the contact points “a” and “b” are alternately set to be “off” states only for a short time each time the contact-point cam is turned by 180 degrees.
  • the drive motor is stopped based on an OFF signal of the contact point “a” and thereby the clutch device is switched to a state that rotation is not transmitted to the washing tub and the valve body of the drainage valve is held at a closing position and washing is performed.
  • the clutch device is switched to a state that rotation is transmitted to the washing tub and the valve body of the drainage valve is held at an open position and dewatering is performed.
  • Patent Literature 1 in order to control power feeding to the drive motor of the clutch device, a microcomputer mounted on the washing machine is required to supply a control signal for the drive motor based on a signal from the three-contact type switch. Therefore, this structure is unable to cope with a system in which the drive motor of the clutch device is directly controlled by a switch which is mechanically set on and off interlocked with connecting and disconnecting states of the clutch device.
  • At least an embodiment of the present invention provides a highly versatile clutch device which can be used both in a structure that control of a motor for driving a clutch device is directly performed by a switch which is opened and closed interlocking with connecting and disconnecting states of the clutch device and a structure that control of the motor for driving the clutch device is performed through a signal from an external control circuit. Further, at least an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which comprises the clutch device.
  • At least an embodiment of the present invention provides a clutch device structured to connect and disconnect transmission of a rotation drive force from a motor to a washing tub.
  • the clutch device includes a first rotor body to which the rotation drive force of the motor is transmitted, a second rotor body which is engageable with the first rotor body, a clutch drive motor which is connected with a first drive line and a second drive line and is structured to be rotated by electric power supplied through the first drive line and the second drive line, a clutch mechanism which is driven by the clutch drive motor to perform switching between a connecting state where the rotation drive force is transmitted from the first rotor body to the second rotor body and a disconnecting state where the connecting state is released, a first switch which is switched from an “ON” state to an “OFF” state when switched from the connecting state to the disconnecting state, a second switch which is switched from an “ON” state to an “OFF” state when switched from the disconnecting state to the connecting state, a first terminal which is electrically connected with one of contact
  • a clutch mechanism which is driven by a clutch drive motor, and two switches are provided which are mechanically opened and closed interlocked with connection and disconnection of the clutch mechanism, in other words, a first switch is provided which is switched from an “ON” state to an “OFF” state when the clutch mechanism is switched to a state where a drive force is transmitted, and a second switch is provided which is switched from an “ON” state to an “OFF” state when switched to a state where the drive force is not transmitted.
  • four terminals are provided, in other words, a first terminal connected with a contact point electrode of the first switch, a third terminal connected with a contact point electrode of the second switch, and a second and a fourth terminals connected with a first and a second drive lines for supplying electric power to the clutch drive motor.
  • two switches are capable of being connected with a power feeding circuit for the clutch drive motor and thus the clutch drive motor can be directly driven and controlled depending on connecting and disconnecting states of the clutch mechanism.
  • signals from two switches can be outputted to an external control circuit and thus the clutch drive motor can be also driven and controlled by a control signal from the external control circuit. Therefore, various drive control systems can be utilized and its versatility is high.
  • the clutch mechanism includes a rotation member which is driven by the clutch drive motor, and a swing member which is structured to be reciprocatedly swung over a constant angular range based on rotation of the rotation member to move the second rotor body between a connecting position where the second rotor body is engaged with the first rotor body and a disconnecting position where engagement of the second rotor body with the first rotor body is released.
  • the first rotor body and the second rotor body are coaxially disposed so as to be superposed on each other in an axial line direction of the washing tub, and the swing member is overlapped with the second rotor body in the axial line direction and is disposed so as to swing with a swing center line coincided with rotation center lines of the first rotor body and the second body as a center.
  • the swing member is formed on one side in the axial line direction with a plurality of first cam faces of a cam mechanism structured to move the second rotor body in a direction approached to and separated from the first rotor body, and the plurality of the first cam faces is disposed with equal angular intervals with the swing center line as a center.
  • the clutch drive motor can be driven depending on an actual state of the clutch mechanism by using the switches which are turned to an “OFF” state at a connecting position and a disconnecting position of the clutch mechanism. Therefore, the second rotor body can be accurately positioned at an engaging position with the first rotor body (clutch connecting position) and a position separated from the first rotor body (clutch disconnecting position). Accordingly, a required moving space of the second rotor body can be minimized and a dimension of the clutch device can be made small in a direction along the axial line direction of the washing tub. As a result, a washing machine in which a device dimension in the axial line direction of the washing tub is small can be realized.
  • cam faces of a cam mechanism for making the second rotor body approach to and separate from the first rotor body are disposed equally in a circumferential direction with a rotation center line of the second rotor body as a center and thus the swing member and the second rotor body can be moved in the axial line direction without being inclined. Therefore, connection and disconnection of the clutch mechanism can be performed with a high degree of accuracy.
  • the swing member is structured so that the swing member is reciprocatedly swung over the constant angular range by being moved by an eccentric pin provided in the rotation member and thereby the swing member is moved in the axial line direction between the connecting position and the disconnecting position, the eccentric pin is passed through a first rotation position and a second rotation position in tangential directions parallel to an imaginary line which is formed by connecting a rotation center of the rotation member and a swing center of the swing member and, when the eccentric pin is passed one of the first rotation position and the second rotation position, the swing member is moved to the connecting position and, when passing the other, the swing member is moved to the disconnecting position.
  • a moving amount (swing angle) of the swing member for a turning angle of the rotation member is small at the connecting position, the disconnecting position and the vicinities of the positions of the clutch mechanism. Therefore, the clutch mechanism can be driven and controlled with a high degree of accuracy at the connecting position, the disconnecting position and the vicinities of the positions of the clutch mechanism and the clutch drive motor can be surely stopped at the connecting position and the disconnecting position of the clutch mechanism.
  • the clutch mechanism includes a second cam face facing the first cam face, and the second cam face is formed with a connecting position holding cam face which is extended in a circumferential direction so that its normal direction is directed in a direction parallel to the axial line and which holds the second rotor body at the connecting position, and a disconnecting position holding cam face which is extended in the circumferential direction so that its normal direction is directed in a direction parallel to the axial line and which holds the second rotor body at the disconnecting position.
  • the second rotor body can be held in a state that the second rotor body is not moved in a connecting and disconnecting direction of the clutch mechanism by the connecting position holding cam face and the disconnecting position holding cam face. Therefore, even when rattling is occurred in the clutch mechanism or in the members of the first and the second switches, the clutch device can be set in the connected and the disconnected states.
  • the clutch device includes a rotation cam which is rotationally driven by the clutch drive motor, a first movable plate which structures one of one contact point electrode and the other contact point electrode of the first switch and which contacts with a cam face of the rotation cam in an urged state toward the cam face, and a second movable plate which structures one of one contact point electrode and the other contact point electrode of the second switch and which contacts with the cam face in an urged state toward the cam face, and a first inclined face of the cam face for moving the first movable plate and the second movable plate from an “ON” position to an “OFF” position is steeper in inclination than a second inclined face for moving the first movable plate and the second movable plate from the “OFF” position to the “ON” position.
  • this structure when the switch is turned to an “OFF” state, the contact point electrode is rapidly separated and thus the contact point electrode can be suppressed from being an unstable contact state. Therefore, chattering of a power supply for the
  • a washing machine in accordance with at least an embodiment of the present invention includes the above-mentioned clutch device, a washing tub which is integrally rotated with the second rotor body, and a pulsator which is integrally rotated with the first rotor body in an inside of the washing tub.
  • the washing machine in accordance with at least an embodiment of the present invention includes a first power feeding circuit which supplies electric power to the clutch drive motor through the first terminal and the second terminal when the first switch is set in an “ON” state, and a second power feeding circuit which supplies electric power to the clutch drive motor through the second terminal and the third terminal when the second switch is set in an “ON” state.
  • the clutch drive motor can be directly driven and controlled depending on the connecting and disconnecting state of the clutch mechanism.
  • a washing machine in accordance with at least an embodiment of the present invention includes a power feeding circuit which supplies electric power to the clutch drive motor through the second terminal and the fourth terminal, and a control section which controls supply of electric power from the power feeding circuit based on an electric potential of the first terminal and an electric potential of the second terminal.
  • the clutch drive motor can be driven and controlled by a control signal from the control section.
  • the second and the fourth terminals connected with a first and a second drive lines for supplying electric power to the clutch drive motor and the first and the third terminals connected with contact point electrodes of two switches which are mechanically opened and closed interlocked with connection and disconnection of the clutch mechanism are provided. Therefore, two switches are capable of being connected with a power feeding circuit for the clutch drive motor and thus the clutch drive motor can be directly driven and controlled depending on a connecting and disconnecting state of the clutch mechanism. Further, signals from two switches can be outputted to an external control circuit and thus the clutch drive motor can be driven and controlled by a control signal from the external control circuit. Therefore, various drive control systems can be utilized and its versatility is high.
  • FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic structure of a washing machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of a drive force transmission mechanism.
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a clutch device which is viewed from an oblique lower side.
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a clutch device which is viewed from an obliquely upper side.
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing connecting and disconnecting states of a clutch device.
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B are side views showing connecting and disconnecting states of a clutch device.
  • FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory views showing a clutch device from which a main frame, a motor case and a cover frame are detached.
  • FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a clutch device from which a cover frame is detached and which is viewed from a lower side.
  • FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are explanatory views showing a first switch, a second switch and a switch opening and closing member.
  • FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory views showing drive embodiments for a clutch device.
  • FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C are explanatory views showing states of a first and a second switches and power feeding states to a power feeding circuit when a clutch device is switched from a connecting state to a disconnecting state in a first drive embodiment.
  • FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C are explanatory views showing states of a first and a second switches and power feeding states to a power feeding circuit when a clutch device is switched from a disconnecting state to a connecting state in a first drive embodiment.
  • FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a rotation cam in a modified example.
  • FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic structure of a washing machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a washing machine 1 includes a main body frame 2 .
  • the main body frame 2 is provided with an opening part 2 a for putting in and taking out laundry such as clothes on its upper face.
  • the main body frame 2 is formed in a rectangular tube shape and its under face is opened.
  • a washing tub 3 formed in a bottomed tube shape is accommodated in an inside of the main body frame 2 so that its opening part 3 a is directed toward an upper side.
  • the washing tub 3 is hanged by the main body frame 2 through a buffer member not shown and is held in a rotatable state around an axial line “L”.
  • a pulsator 4 is disposed in a bottom portion on an inner side of the washing tub 3 .
  • a motor 5 is disposed to a lower side of the washing tub 3 .
  • a rotation drive force of the motor 5 is transmitted to the washing tub 3 and the pulsator 4 through a drive force transmission mechanism 6 .
  • the drive force transmission mechanism 6 includes a clutch device 10 structured to connect and disconnect transmission of a rotation drive force of the motor 5 to the washing tub 3 on the way of a power transmission path from the motor 5 to the washing tub 3 .
  • washing machine 1 When the washing machine 1 is operated in a state that clothes have been put into the washing tub 3 through the opening part 2 a of the main body frame 2 , washing water is supplied to the washing tub 3 through a water supply pipe not shown. After that, the motor 5 is driven to rotate the pulsator 4 and washing of clothes in the washing tub 3 is performed. In a washing operation when clothes are washed, the clutch device 10 is set in a disconnecting state that transmission of a rotation drive force of the motor 5 to the washing tub 3 is disconnected. Therefore, the washing tub 3 is set in a stopped state.
  • a dewatering operation for dewatering clothes is performed.
  • the clutch device 10 is set in a connecting state that a rotation drive force of the motor 5 is transmitted to the washing tub 3 and, in this state, the motor 5 is driven.
  • the pulsator 4 and the washing tub 3 are integrally rotated and thus the clothes in the washing tub 3 are also turned together with the washing tub 3 and the pulsator 4 . Therefore, the clothes are dewatered by a centrifugal force.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the drive force transmission mechanism 6 .
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 are exploded perspective views showing the clutch device 10 in which a first rotor body is not shown.
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view when viewed from an obliquely lower side (first rotor body 13 side) and
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view when viewed from an obliquely upper side (connection member 15 side). As shown in FIGS.
  • the drive force transmission mechanism 6 includes the clutch device 10 , a shaft member 14 coaxially disposed with the first rotor body 13 and a second rotor body 20 of the clutch device 10 , and a connection member 15 coaxially connected with a lower end portion of the washing tub 3 .
  • the clutch device 10 includes the first rotor body 13 to which a rotation drive force of an output shaft 11 of the motor 5 is transmitted through an endless belt 12 (see FIG. 1 ) and the second rotor body 20 which is disposed so as to be superposed on the first rotor body 13 in an axial line “L” direction of the washing tub 3 .
  • the first rotor body 13 is formed in a disk shape and is coaxially disposed with the washing tub 3 to a lower side of the washing tub 3 .
  • a circular outer peripheral face of the first rotor body 13 is an attaching face 13 a to which the endless belt 12 is attached. Further, a center portion of an upper end face of the first rotor body 13 is formed with a teeth part not shown.
  • the teeth part faces a teeth part 21 provided on a lower end face of a lower side portion 20 A (see FIG. 3 ) of the second rotor body 20 and is formed in a shape so as to be engaged with the teeth part 21 .
  • Each of the teeth part of the first rotor body 13 and the teeth part 21 of the second rotor body 20 is formed in a shape so that a plurality of projections extended in a radial direction is arranged with equal angular intervals in a circular ring shape.
  • the shaft member 14 includes an outer shaft member 16 formed in a tube shape and a rotation shaft 17 which is disposed on an inner side of the outer shaft member 16 .
  • a lower end portion of the rotation shaft 17 is, as shown in FIG. 1 , connected with the first rotor body 13 , and its upper end portion is penetrated through a bottom part of the washing tub 3 and connected with the pulsator 4 . Therefore, a rotation drive force of the motor 5 is transmitted to the pulsator 4 through the endless belt 12 , the first rotor body 13 and the rotation shaft 17 .
  • a power transmission path including the endless belt 12 , the first rotor body 13 and the rotation shaft 17 is structured between the motor 5 and the pulsator 4 .
  • the outer shaft member 16 is relatively rotatable to the rotation shaft 17 and the outer shaft member 16 and the first rotor body 13 are not connected with each other.
  • a connection member 15 is attached to an outer peripheral side of the outer shaft member 16 and the outer shaft member 16 and the connection member 15 are integrally rotated with each other.
  • connection member 15 is, as shown in FIG. 2 , provided with a large diameter flange part 18 connected with the washing tub 3 and a small diameter tube part 19 whose diameter is smaller than that of the large diameter flange part 18 .
  • the small diameter tube part 19 is protruded to a lower side from the large diameter flange part 18 .
  • the shaft member 14 is inserted into an inner side of the small diameter tube part 19 .
  • the outer shaft member 16 of the shaft member 14 is connected with the small diameter tube part 19 so as to rotate together with the connection member 15 .
  • the second rotor body 20 is coaxially attached to an outer peripheral side of a lower side portion of the small diameter tube part 19 .
  • a lower side portion 20 A of the second rotor body 20 is formed with a penetration part 22 to which a lower side portion of the small diameter tube part 19 is attached.
  • An inner peripheral face of the penetration part 22 is formed with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 26 a and an outer peripheral face of the small diameter tube part 19 is formed with a plurality of projections 26 b .
  • the second rotor body 20 is connected with the connection member 15 in a state relatively movable in the axial line “L” direction with respect to the connection member 15 and in a state integrally rotatable with the connection member 15 by a spline 26 structured of the longitudinal grooves 26 a and the projections 26 b .
  • the second rotor body 20 is integrally and rotatably connected with the washing tub 3 through the connection member 15 .
  • the clutch device 10 includes a main frame 30 attached from an under face side to a support plate 9 which is disposed at a predetermined position to a lower side of the washing tub 3 .
  • the support plate 9 is hanged from the main body frame 2 together with the washing tub 3 through a buffer member not shown.
  • the clutch device 10 is supported by the main body frame 2 through the support plate 9 .
  • the support plate 9 is provided with a ring-shaped protruded part 9 b which is protruded to a lower side.
  • a center portion of the ring-shaped protruded part 9 b is provided with a through-hole 9 a through which the small diameter tube part 19 of the connection member 15 is penetrated in the axial line “L” direction.
  • the ring-shaped protruded part 9 b is penetrated through a through-hole 30 a (see FIG. 4 ) provided in a rotor body mounting part 30 A of a main frame 30 of the clutch device 10 and is protruded to a lower side.
  • a lower end portion of the ring-shaped protruded part 9 b is inserted into an inner side of an upper side portion of the second rotor body 20 .
  • the main frame 30 is provided with a mechanism mounting part 30 B which is protruded to an outer side in a radial direction from the rotor body mounting part 30 A.
  • a motor case 31 is fixed to the mechanism mounting part 30 B.
  • the motor case 31 structures a motor accommodation part which accommodates a synchronous motor 37 (clutch drive motor) described below and a gear train 63 (see FIGS. 7A and 7B ).
  • a compression coil spring 28 is provided on a lower side of a lower end face of the ring-shaped protruded part 9 b .
  • the compression coil spring 28 is disposed between a lower end face of the ring-shaped protruded part 9 b and an upward face 23 (see FIG. 4 ) which is formed on an inner side of an upper side portion of the second rotor body 20 .
  • the compression coil spring 28 urges the second rotor body 20 to a lower side (direction toward the first rotor body 13 ).
  • a ring-shaped bearing 29 is disposed on an inner side of the ring-shaped protruded part 9 b of the support plate 9 .
  • the washing tub 3 is rotatably supported through the connection member 15 by using the bearing 29 .
  • FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views showing connecting and disconnecting states of the clutch device 10 .
  • FIGS. 6A and 6B are side views showing connecting and disconnecting states of the clutch device 10 .
  • FIGS. 5A and 6A are views showing connecting states in which a drive force of the motor 5 is transmitted.
  • FIGS. 5B and 6B are views showing disconnecting states in which a drive force of the motor 5 is not transmitted.
  • the first rotor body 13 is not shown and, in FIGS. 6A and 6B , a cover frame is shown by the broken line
  • the clutch device 10 includes the first rotor body 13 and the second rotor body 20 described above, a clutch mechanism 33 , and a synchronous motor 37 (clutch drive motor) structured to drive the clutch mechanism 33 .
  • the clutch mechanism 33 is switched between a connecting state in which a rotation drive force is transmitted from the first rotor body 13 to the second rotor body 20 and a disconnecting state in which the connecting state is released.
  • the clutch mechanism 33 moves the second rotor body 20 in the axial line “L” direction when a connecting state and a disconnecting state are to be switched.
  • the clutch device 10 includes a first switch “A” which is switched from an “ON” state to an “OFF” state when the clutch mechanism 33 is switched from the connecting state to the disconnecting state, a second switch “B” which is switched from an “ON” state to an “OFF” state when the clutch mechanism 33 is switched from the disconnecting state to the connecting state, and a terminal part 44 in which terminals connected with contact points of the first switch “A” and the second switch “B” are disposed.
  • the terminal part 44 is formed in the mechanism mounting part 30 B of the main frame 30 .
  • the clutch mechanism 33 includes a swing member 34 which rotatably supports the second rotor body 20 , a cover frame 36 which supports the swing member 34 in a state movable in the axial line “L” direction and in a reciprocatedly swingable state around the axial line “L”, and a rotation member 61 which is turned by a synchronous motor 37 in one direction.
  • the clutch mechanism 33 includes a conversion mechanism 38 (rotation—swing conversion mechanism) by which rotation in one direction (clockwise direction CW around the rotation center shaft “L 1 ”) of the rotation member 61 is converted to a reciprocating swing of the swing member 34 (reciprocating swing in a clockwise direction CW and a counterclockwise direction CCW around the axial line “L”), and a cam mechanism 39 which reciprocatedly moves the swing member 34 in the axial line “L” direction interlocked with the reciprocating swing of the swing member 34 .
  • a conversion mechanism 38 rotation—swing conversion mechanism
  • the swing member 34 is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , provided with a ring-shaped part 45 and a lever part 46 which is protruded to an outer peripheral side from the ring-shaped part 45 .
  • a lower side portion 20 A of the second rotor body 20 is inserted to an inner side of the ring-shaped part 45 , and a flange 25 formed on an outer peripheral face of an upper end of the lower side portion 20 A is contacted with the swing member 34 in a state that the flange 25 is placed on an upper face of the ring-shaped part 45 .
  • a first cam part 47 structuring a cam mechanism 39 is provided on an under face of the ring-shaped part 45 at three positions separated from each other with equal angular intervals.
  • Each of the first cam parts 47 is a protruded part which is protruded toward a lower side and is provided with an inclined face 47 a , which is inclined to a lower side as going to one side in a circumferential direction, and a flat lower end face 47 b which is extended from a lower end of the inclined face 47 a in a direction perpendicular to the axial line “L”.
  • the inclined face 47 a and the lower end face 47 b structure a first cam face of the cam mechanism 39 .
  • the lever part 46 is formed with an elongated hole 48 structuring the conversion mechanism 38 .
  • the elongated hole 48 is a straight-shaped elongated hole and is extended long in a protruding direction of the lever part 46 (direction away from the center of the axial line “L”).
  • the cover frame 36 is formed in a shape in which a large diameter part 36 a and a small diameter part 36 b in cylindrical shapes are connected with each other in an upper and lower direction.
  • the cover frame 36 is fixed to a lower side of the rotor body mounting part 30 A of the main frame 30 coaxially with the through-hole 30 a with the axial line “L” as a center.
  • the cover frame 36 covers the lower side portion 20 A of the second rotor body 20 and the ring-shaped part 45 of the swing member 34 from an outer peripheral side.
  • an inner face of the cover frame 36 is formed with a step face 56 facing upward at a connection part of the large diameter part 36 a with the small diameter part 36 b .
  • the step face 56 is a circular ring-shaped face with the axial line “L” as a center and the ring-shaped part 45 of the swing member 34 is disposed above the step face 56 .
  • the large diameter part 36 a of the cover frame 36 is formed with a cut-out part 36 c which is formed by cutting out its portion in a circumferential direction from an upper side.
  • the swing member 34 is placed on the step face 56 from an upper side in a state that the lever part 46 is protruded from the cut-out part 36 c toward the mechanism mounting part 30 B.
  • the step face 56 is formed with a second cam face 58 at three positions with equal angular intervals so as to be capable of sliding on the first cam face (the inclined face 47 a and the lower end face 47 b ) of the first cam part 47 provided in the swing member 34 .
  • the second cam face 58 is provided with a first cam face portion 58 a in a flat face, which is an upper end face of the second cam part 59 that is a protruded part protruding to an upper side from an upper face of the step face 56 , a second cam face portion 58 b in an inclined face, which is a side face on one side in the circumferential direction of the second cam part 59 , and a third cam face portion 58 c in a flat face which is an upper face of the step face 56 and is extended from a lower end of the second cam face portion 58 b.
  • the cam mechanism 39 is structured of the first cam face (the inclined face 47 a and the lower end face 47 b ) which is an end face of the first cam part 47 formed in the swing member 34 and the second cam face 58 which is an end face of the second cam part 59 formed in the cover frame 36 .
  • the inclined face 47 a of the first cam face and the second cam face portion 58 b of the second cam face 58 are inclined to a lower side as going to one side in the circumferential direction (clockwise direction CW with the axial line “L” as a center).
  • the first cam face portion 58 a and the third cam face portion 58 c are formed in flat faces which are extended in the circumferential direction so that their normal directions are directed to a parallel direction to the axial line “L”.
  • the cam mechanism 39 is not limited to a cam mechanism utilizing an end face shape of a cylindrical tube member as described above, but various well-known cam shapes may be used.
  • the conversion mechanism 38 includes the elongated hole 48 as an engaging part which is provided in the lever part 46 of the swing member 34 and the rotation member 61 which is connected with an output shaft of the synchronous motor 37 through a gear train 63 .
  • the rotation member 61 is formed with an eccentric pin 60 in a column shape which is engaged with the elongated hole 48 in a state slidable in the elongated hole 48 .
  • the rotation member 61 is rotatably attached at a position on the rotor body mounting part 30 A side in the mechanism mounting part 30 B of the main frame 30 so as to be rotatable around the rotation center axis “L 1 ” which is parallel to the axial line “L”.
  • FIG. 7A is a side view showing the clutch device 10 from which the main frame 30 , the motor case 31 and the cover frame 36 are detached.
  • FIG. 7B is a plan view showing a synchronous motor and a gear train of the clutch device 10 which are viewed from a lower side.
  • a rotation drive force of the synchronous motor 37 disposed in an inside of the motor case 31 is transmitted to the rotation member 61 through a gear train 63 which is disposed in the inside of the motor case 31 together with the synchronous motor 37 .
  • the synchronous motor 37 in this embodiment is an AC synchronous motor and its rotating direction is restricted in one direction.
  • the gear train 63 includes a first gear 63 a having a large diameter gear part engaged with the pinion 37 a , a second gear 63 b having a large diameter gear part engaged with a small diameter gear part of the first gear 63 a , a third gear 63 c having a large diameter gear part engaged with a small diameter gear part of the second gear 63 b , a fourth gear 63 d having a large diameter gear part engaged with a small diameter gear part of the third gear 63 c , and a fifth gear 63 e engaged with a small diameter gear part of the fourth gear 63 d .
  • the fifth gear 63 e is attached so as to integrally rotate with the rotation member 61 and a rotation cam 41 described below.
  • the swing member 34 is, as a whole, swung with a swing center line as a center which is coincided with the rotation center lines of the first rotor body 13 and the second rotor body 20 (in other words, a straight line coincided with the axial line “L”).
  • the clutch device 10 is set to be a connecting state in which a rotation drive force of the motor 5 is transmitted to the washing tub 3 .
  • the cam mechanism 39 for moving the swing member 34 in the axial line “L” direction is provided with three first cam parts 47 formed on the swing member 34 .
  • the first cam parts 47 are disposed on the swing member 34 with equal angular intervals with the axial line “L” which is its swing center line as a center.
  • the first cam face (inclined face 47 a and lower end face 47 b ) which is slidably moved on the second cam face 58 of the cover frame 36 is disposed with equal angular intervals with the axial line “L” as a center.
  • the swing member 34 is moved in a direction parallel to the axial line “L”, and the swing member 34 is moved without being inclined with respect to the rotation center lines (axial line “L”) of the first rotor body 13 and the second rotor body 20 . Accordingly, the second rotor body 20 supported by the swing member 34 can be moved without being inclined with respect to its rotation center line.
  • the second cam face 58 is formed so that the first cam part 47 of the swing member 34 is run on the first cam face portion 58 a (disconnecting position holding cam face) at a predetermined position before the lever part 46 is reached to the first position 46 A at one end in the reciprocating swing direction. Then, the first cam part 47 moves on the flat first cam face portion 58 a until reaching to the first position 46 A.
  • the second cam face 58 is formed so that the first cam part 47 of the swing member 34 is transferred to the third cam face portion 58 c (connecting position holding cam face) at a predetermined position before the lever part 46 is reached to the second position 46 B at the other end in the reciprocating swing direction. Then, the first cam part 47 is moved on the flat third cam face portion 58 c until reaching to the second position 46 B.
  • the flat faces extended in the circumferential direction whose normal directions are set in directions parallel to the axial line “L” are provided at one end and the other end in the reciprocating swing direction of the second cam face 58 . Therefore, the vicinities of the one end and the other end in the reciprocating swing range of the lever part 46 are formed as regions where the second rotor body 20 is not moved in the axial line “L” direction which is a connecting and disconnecting direction of the clutch device.
  • the clutch device 10 can be set in a connecting state and a disconnecting state surely.
  • FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the clutch device 10 from which the first rotor body 13 and the cover frame 36 are detached and which is viewed from a lower side.
  • the eccentric pin 60 is turned so as to pass a first rotation position 60 A and a second rotation position 60 B which are located on an imaginary line “L 3 ” that is perpendicular to an imaginary line “L 2 ” passing the swing center (axial line “L”) of the swing member 34 and a rotation center (rotation center axis “L 1 ”) of the rotation member 61 and that passes the rotation center of the rotation member 61 .
  • the first rotation position 60 A and the second rotation position 60 B are located on a circular orbit and thus tangential directions at the first rotation position 60 A and the second rotation position 60 B are parallel to the imaginary line “L 2 ” formed by connecting the swing center of the swing member 34 with the rotation center of the rotation member 61 .
  • a moving amount (swing angle) of the lever part 46 with respect to a turning angle of the eccentric pin 60 is the smallest and, in the first position 46 A at the one end and the second position 46 B at the other end in the reciprocating swing range of the lever part 46 , swing of the lever part 46 can be controlled with a high degree of accuracy and a moving amount in the axial line “L” direction of the swing member 34 can be controlled finely.
  • the conversion mechanism 38 is structured so that, while the eccentric pin 60 is turned at a constant speed, a moving amount in the axial line “L” direction of the swing member 34 can be controlled finely at the one end and the other end in the reciprocating swing range.
  • the second rotor body 20 can be stopped with a high degree of accuracy at both positions, i.e., at a clutch connecting position engaged with the first rotor body 13 and at a clutch disconnecting position disengaged from the first rotor body 13 .
  • the first switch “A” and the second switch “B” and the rotation cam 41 structured to switch on and off states of the first switch “A” and the second switch “B” interlocked with the reciprocating swing of the swing member 34 are mounted between the mechanism mounting part 30 B of the main frame 30 and the motor case 31 .
  • the rotation cam 41 is integrally rotated with the rotation member 61 which is rotated by the synchronous motor 37 .
  • the rotation cam 41 is formed in a disk shape in which a part in a circumferential direction is recessed to an inner side in a radial direction and a cam face 42 is provided on its outer peripheral face. A part of the cam face 42 is formed to be a recessed part 43 which is recessed to an inner side in the radial direction.
  • FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are explanatory views showing the first switch “A”, the second switch “B” and the rotation cam 41 .
  • FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are plan views which are viewed from a lower side of the clutch device 10 (first rotor body 13 side).
  • the first switch “A” includes a first stationary plate “A 1 ” disposed to an outer peripheral side of the rotation cam 41 and a first movable plate “A 2 ” which is disposed between the first stationary plate “A 1 ” and a cam face 42 facing the first stationary plate “A 1 ”.
  • the first movable plate “A 2 ” is urged toward the cam face 42 .
  • the first stationary plate “A 1 ” structures one of contact point electrodes of the first switch “A” and the first movable plate “A 2 ” structures the other of the contact point electrodes of the first switch “A”.
  • the second switch “B” is symmetrically structured with the first switch “A” across the rotation cam 41 .
  • the second switch “B” includes a second stationary plate “B 1 ” disposed to an outer peripheral side of the rotation cam 41 and a second movable plate “B 2 ” which is disposed between the second stationary plate “B 1 ” and a cam face 42 facing the second stationary plate “B 1 ”.
  • the second movable plate “B 2 ” is urged toward the cam face 42 .
  • the second stationary plate “B 1 ” structures one of contact point electrodes of the second switch “B” and the second movable plate “B 2 ” structures the other of the contact point electrodes of the second switch “B”.
  • the first movable plate “A 2 ” and the second movable plate “B 2 ” are contacted with the cam face 42 at angular positions separated by 180 degrees with the rotation center axis “L 1 ” of the rotation cam 41 as a reference.
  • the first switch “A”, the second switch “B” and the rotation cam 41 are structured so that, when the eccentric pin 60 provided in the rotation member 61 is located at the first rotation position 60 A, the first movable plate “A 2 ” is fallen into the recessed part 43 and, when the eccentric pin 60 is located at the second rotation position 60 B, the second movable plate “B 2 ” is fallen into the recessed part 43 .
  • the first switch “A” is, as shown in FIG. 9A , turned to an “OFF” state when the lever part 46 of the swing member 34 is moved to the first position 46 A that is one end in the reciprocating swing range.
  • the second switch “B” is, as shown in FIG.
  • the first stationary plate “A 1 ” and the second stationary plate “B 1 ” of the four metal plates are connected with the terminal part 44 .
  • Four connector parts 44 a through 44 d are provided in the terminal part 44 .
  • the first stationary plate “A 1 ” is electrically connected with a first terminal “T 1 ” disposed in the connector part 44 a .
  • the second stationary plate “B 1 ” is electrically connected with a third terminal “T 3 ” disposed in the connector part 44 c .
  • a fourth terminal “T 4 ” disposed in the connector part 44 d is electrically connected with one of a first and a second drive wires for supplying electric power to the synchronous motor 37 .
  • the first movable plate “A 2 ” and the second movable plate “B 2 ” are electrically connected with the fourth terminal “T 4 ”.
  • the first movable plate “A 2 ” and the second movable plate “B 2 ” are electrically connected with one of the first and the second drive wires for supplying electric power to the synchronous motor 37 through the fourth terminal “T 4 ”.
  • connecting second terminal “T 2 ” disposed in the connector part 44 b is connected with the other of the first and the second drive wires for supplying electric power to the synchronous motor 37 and is connected with a power supply for driving the synchronous motor 37 .
  • FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory views showing drive embodiments of the clutch device 10 .
  • FIG. 10A shows a first drive embodiment in which the first and the second switches “A” and “B” are provided in a power feeding circuit “C” to the synchronous motor 37 .
  • FIG. 10B shows a second drive embodiment in which signals from the first and the second switches “A” and “B” are outputted to the outside of the clutch device 10 .
  • the power feeding circuit “C” includes the synchronous motor 37 , a power supply for driving the synchronous motor 37 , and a switch for switching on and off the power supply to the synchronous motor 37 .
  • FIG. 10A shows a first drive embodiment in which the first and the second switches “A” and “B” are provided in a power feeding circuit “C” to the synchronous motor 37 .
  • FIG. 10B shows a second drive embodiment in which signals from the first and the second switches “A” and “B” are outputted to the outside of the clutch device 10 .
  • the power feeding circuit “C” includes a first power feeding circuit “C 1 ” provided with the first switch “A” and a second power feeding circuit “C 2 ” provided with the second switch “B”.
  • the first power feeding circuit “C 1 ” is a circuit which is structured so that one of contact points of the first switch “A” and a power supply are connected with each other through the first terminal “T 1 ”, the synchronous motor 37 and the power supply are connected with each other through the second terminal “T 2 ”, and the other of the contact points of the first switch “A” and the synchronous motor 37 are connected with each other through the fourth terminal “T 4 ”.
  • the second power feeding circuit “C 2 ” is a circuit which is structured so that one of contact points of the second switch “B” and a power supply are connected with each other through the third terminal “T 3 ”, the synchronous motor 37 and the power supply are connected with each other through the second terminal “T 2 ”, and the other of the contact points of the second switch “B” and the synchronous motor 37 are connected with each other through the fourth terminal “T 4 ”.
  • the first power feeding circuit “C 1 ” and the second power feeding circuit “C 2 ” of the power feeding circuit “C” are respectively circuits in which a pair of drive lines (first and second drive lines) connected with the same power supply is connecting with the synchronous motor 37 through these terminals and the synchronous motor 37 is rotated by electric power supplied to the synchronous motor 37 through the first and the second drive lines.
  • FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C are explanatory views showing states of the first and the second switches “A” and “B” and power feeding states in the power feeding circuit “C” when the clutch device 10 is switched from the connecting state to the disconnecting state in the first drive embodiment shown in FIG. 10A .
  • the swing member 34 In the connecting state, the swing member 34 is located at the connecting position 34 A and the lever part 46 of the swing member 34 has been moved to the first position 46 A that is one end in the reciprocating swing range and thus, as shown in FIG. 9A , the first switch “A” is in an “OFF” state and the second switch “B” is in an “ON” state. In this case, as shown in FIG.
  • FIGS. 12A, 12B and 12C are explanatory views showing states of the first and the second switches “A” and “B” and power feeding states in the power feeding circuit “C” when the clutch device 10 is switched from the disconnecting state to the connecting state in the first drive embodiment.
  • the swing member 34 In the disconnecting state, the swing member 34 is located at the disconnecting position 34 B and the lever part 46 of the swing member 34 has been moved to the second position 46 B that is the other end in the reciprocating swing range and thus, as shown in FIG. 9C , the first switch “A” is in an “ON” state and the second switch “B” is in an “OFF” state.
  • power feeding to the synchronous motor 37 is started by the first power feeding circuit “C 1 ”.
  • both of the first switch “A” and the second switch “B” are set to be “ON”.
  • the swing member 34 is reached to the connecting position 34 A and the lever part 46 is moved to the first position 46 A that is the one end in the reciprocating swing range and the first switch “A” is turned to be “OFF”.
  • the first power feeding circuit “C 1 ” is cut off and power feeding is stopped and thus the synchronous motor 37 is stopped.
  • the synchronous motor 37 is automatically stopped and the swing member 34 is held at the connecting position 34 A and the clutch device 10 is set to be the connecting state.
  • connection and disconnection of the clutch device 10 can be switched without performing complicated control such as controlling of a power feeding time period or judging of connection and disconnection of the clutch device 10 by detecting a position of a member.
  • connection and disconnection switching when next connection and disconnection switching is to be performed, the power feeding circuit which was used for previous switching is in an off state and thus, the other power feeding circuit is energized to activate the synchronous motor 37 . After that, when power feeding is continued until the switch of the power feeding circuit being energized is cut off, connection and disconnection of the clutch device 10 can be switched. In other words, in order to repeatedly perform connection and disconnection of the clutch device 10 , it is sufficient that electric power is alternately supplied to the first power feeding circuit “C 1 ” and the second power feeding circuit “C 2 ” and its control is simple.
  • a second embodiment shown in FIG. 10B is structured so that a power feeding circuit “C” to the synchronous motor 37 does not use the first and the second switches “A” and “B” and that signals from the first stationary plate “A 1 ” and the second stationary plate “B 1 ” of the first and the second switches “A” and “B” are outputted to the outside of the clutch device 10 .
  • signals from the first and the second switches “A” and “B” are inputted to a control section 1 A for controlling respective parts of the washing machine 1 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 10B ).
  • a relay R 1 of the control section 1 A is disposed between the first terminal “T 1 ” and the second terminal “T 2 ” and a relay R 2 of the control section 1 A is disposed between the third terminal “T 3 ” and the second terminal “T 2 ”.
  • a switch of a power feeding circuit “C” is operated based on a signal from the first and the second switches “A” and “B” to drive and control the synchronous motor 37 .
  • a switch provided between the second terminal “T 2 ” and a power supply is turned on or off.
  • the swing member 34 is reciprocatedly swung based on rotation of the synchronous motor 37 and thereby the second rotor body 20 is engaged with or separated from the first rotor body 13 to switch connection and disconnection of the clutch device 10 .
  • the first and the second switches “A” and “B” are mechanically opened or closed by the rotation cam 41 interlocked with connection and disconnection of the clutch device 10 and the first and second switches “A” and “B” are capable of being connected with the power feeding circuit “C” to the synchronous motor 37 . Therefore, the synchronous motor 37 can be directly driven and controlled by the first and the second switches “A” and “B” depending on the connecting and disconnecting states of the clutch device 10 .
  • first and the second switches “A” and “B” can be connected with an external control circuit such as the control section 1 A of the washing machine 1 and thus, based on signals from the two switches, the synchronous motor 37 can be driven and controlled by the external control circuit. Therefore, various drive control systems can be utilized and its versatility is high.
  • the clutch device 10 is provided with the terminal part 44 for connecting with switches, a power supply, a motor and the like by using a connector.
  • lead wires may be utilized for connection without using a connector.
  • FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a rotation cam in a modified example.
  • a rotation cam 141 in the modified example is different from the above-mentioned embodiment in a shape of a recessed part 143 formed in a cam face 142 .
  • the recessed part 43 in the embodiment described above is formed in a symmetric shape in a circumferential direction.
  • the recessed part 143 in this embodiment is formed in an asymmetric shape in a circumferential direction. As shown in FIG.
  • the recessed part 143 is provided with an inclined face 143 a on a front side in a turning direction (clockwise direction CW) of the rotation cam 141 and an inclined face 143 b on a rear side in the turning direction, and inclination of the inclined face 143 a on the front side is larger than that of the inclined face 143 b on the rear side.
  • the inclination of the inclined face 143 a on the front side in a turning direction is set to be larger (steeper) than the inclination of the inclined face 143 b on the rear side. Therefore, when the first movable plate “A 2 ” or the second movable plate “B 2 ” is fallen into the recessed part 143 and the first switch “A” or the second switch “B” is turned off, the contact point of the switch is rapidly separated. Accordingly, the contact point of the switch can be suppressed from being in an unstable contact state. As a result, in a structure that power feeding to the synchronous motor 37 for driving the clutch device 10 is controlled by on and off of the switch, chattering of a power supply for the synchronous motor 37 can be suppressed.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)
  • Mechanical Operated Clutches (AREA)
US15/036,179 2013-11-14 2014-11-07 Clutch device and washing machine Active 2035-06-30 US10145048B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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JP2013-235965 2013-11-14
JP2013235965A JP6210854B2 (ja) 2013-11-14 2013-11-14 クラッチ装置および洗濯機
PCT/JP2014/079517 WO2015072397A1 (ja) 2013-11-14 2014-11-07 クラッチ装置および洗濯機

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JP6210854B2 (ja) * 2013-11-14 2017-10-11 日本電産サンキョー株式会社 クラッチ装置および洗濯機
CN109563887B (zh) * 2016-08-10 2021-03-26 敏思工业公司 连接和机电控制组件及用于其中的机电系统
JP2020087576A (ja) * 2018-11-20 2020-06-04 日本電産サンキョー株式会社 スイッチ装置、アクチュエータ、クラッチ装置、および洗濯機
KR102480297B1 (ko) * 2020-12-24 2022-12-23 엘지전자 주식회사 의류처리장치
KR102521287B1 (ko) * 2020-12-24 2023-04-13 엘지전자 주식회사 의류처리장치
KR20250017365A (ko) * 2023-07-27 2025-02-04 엘지전자 주식회사 의류처리장치 및 의류처리장치의 제어방법

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JP6210854B2 (ja) 2017-10-11
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CN204238040U (zh) 2015-04-01
WO2015072397A1 (ja) 2015-05-21
US20160298277A1 (en) 2016-10-13
CN104631046A (zh) 2015-05-20

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